While a chicken’s diet should be well balanced, an occasional treat can be good. Treats can help relieve boredom in confined chickens, including those that are being kept inside for the winter. They may[more…]

The very word chicken brings up the image of a coward, but chickens aren’t really cowards. Here’s a compilation of the most common myths and misconceptions about chickens and eggs that you may encounter[more…]

If you plan to raise chickens, you must be ready to encounter parasites. Even a city chicken coop can be invaded. Internal parasites — in particular worms and coccidiosis — are especially problematic,[more…]

Starting a chicken flock with adult birds, though less common than raising chicks, is a great way to have a productive backyard coop from day one. But your flock won’t be productive if they aren’t happy[more…]

If you plan to raise chickens, you must find a good veterinarian who treats poultry. Don’t wait until a bird gets sick. Know where to go before an emergency arises in your flock; you’ll save valuable time[more…]

Chicken parasites are a given in most backyard coops. External parasites — lice, mites, fowl tick, and chiggers — are the creepy-crawlies found on the outside of the chicken, so common that earlier poultry[more…]

Many new chicken owners want to know how chickens interact with other poultry or animals. Many people envision a happy barnyard mixture of chickens and other poultry, or perhaps goats and horses. You can[more…]

Like all creatures, chickens must have clean water. You should never wonder how much water to give chickens or when; fresh water should never be limited. Chickens whose water intake is restricted won’t[more…]

Feeding chickens isn’t just throwing some corn outside the coop, no matter what old movies show. To find the commercial feed that’s best suited to your chickens, you need to understand the purpose of different[more…]

Neighbors are any people who are in sight, sound, and smelling distance of your chickens. Even if it’s legal in your urban or suburban area to keep chickens, the law may require your neighbors’ approval[more…]

Being called a birdbrain is supposed to indicate that you’re not very smart. Bird brains may be organized more like reptile brains than mammal brains, but plenty of evidence indicates that birds, including[more…]

Raising chickens sometimes requires treating injuries. Eye and beak injuries are not uncommon, especially when a predator attacks the coop. You can, in fact, take care of a blind chicken and learn how[more…]

Some adult chickens are still shipped by air, but airlines are getting fussier about transporting animals and may not carry them at certain times of the year. You may have to go to the airport to pick[more…]

Chickens are notorious for eating almost anything. Their taste buds are not well developed, and tastes that most consider bad don’t faze them. This can be their downfall if they eat something like Styrofoam[more…]

For home flocks, brown-egg layers are popular. The brown eggs these birds lay can vary from light tan to deep chocolate brown, sometimes even within the same breed. As hens get older, their eggs tend to[more…]

Raising chickens is not without its difficult moments, such as finding a wounded chick or discovering a sick bird. Sick or injured chickens need immediate attention — and special handling. If a chicken[more…]

There may be ordinances or laws against raising chickens on your property – but that doesn’t mean you should give up on having chickens in your backyard. If your city, village, or township doesn’t allow[more…]

Here is a compilation of the most common myths and misconceptions about chickens and eggs that you may encounter as a chicken owner — or chicken-keeper wannabe. Maybe some of these bits of misinformation[more…]

In addition to basic needs like food and rest, chickens need as little stress as possible to be able to perform well. You’re probably aware of how stress affects people and how it impacts their health.[more…]